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The
Importance of Routines
“Watch
your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become
character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny” Frank
Outlaw
Routines are a way to instill character into our children. Planning
and sticking to the plan is a vital life skill. Regular schedules provide
the day with a framework that puts order into a child’s world.
Establishing routine is difficult for at first. However, it is important
to note that while predictability can become tedious for adults, children
thrive on sameness and repetition. Experts on child development state
that routine’s and predictability in daily living and in relationships
help children become more confident.
Routines
begin from the first day of life, and often we find ourselves working
with children who have not had the structure needed to thrive. When
a person does not know what to expect, they show signs of anxiety and
stress through challenging behaviors. By establishing routines and structure,
it enables a child to feel secure in their environment. Knowing what
to expect, diminishes a lot of negative, reactive behaviors.
Tips
for Implementing Routines:
-
Maintain regular mealtimes: Food is very important
in all of our lives. It serves as more than just nourishment. Knowing
that you will be taken care of in this area reduces anxiety.
-
Wind down before bed: Introducing nightly rituals
are soothing and take the battle out of bedtime. It’s important
to start the bedtime routines and include a time for them to clean
up and plan for the next day.
-
Be consistent but flexible: Consistency is the key,
but you have to make time for the unexpected. As soon as possible
return to the routine.
-
Be a role model: Children will look to the adults
in their lives to understand how to react to challenging situations.
Maintaining a calm demeanor helps to reassure children that they can
overcome their own feelings of fear or anxiety.
References:
www.knowledgelearning.com/katrina/pdf/children.pdf
www.pbs.org/wholechild/parents/little.html
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